Assessment is an important part of an overall quality educational program and is, in fact, an integral part of classroom instruction. The purpose of educational assessments is to provide an academic check-up and to give teachers and parents meaningful information on what students know and can do, and how well they are progressing toward college and career readiness. Assessments strive to show how well students perform on clearly defined standards, objectives and skills that are being taught in the classroom. They provide valuable feedback to students, educators, parents, policy makers, and the public about students’ academic strengths, as well as areas that need improvement, and about the effectiveness of the state’s educational system as a whole.
West Virginia strives to ensure that every student has a positive and productive assessment experience and that the assessments are accessible to all students, including English Language Learners, students with disabilities, and students who have Section 504 and/or SAT plans. The West Virginia Guidelines for Participation in State Assessments (Participation Guidelines) help provide the following:
Providing policy guidance to individualized education program (IEP) teams, Section 504 committees, Student Assistance Teams and English Learner (EL) committees for appropriately accommodating students in statewide and district-wide assessments;
Helping teachers and schools work within the framework of federal law and state policies; and
Providing information for documentation of implementation and assurances for federal requirements under both the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004).
The information in West Virginia Guidelines for Participation in State Assessments is reviewed annually for comprehensiveness and clarity by the Stakeholder Group for Participation Guidelines. The 2023-24 West Virginia Guidelines for Participation in State Assessments is now available for download. You may download your copy using the link below.